Water-gate



(No Model.) l Y J.- E CAPLINGER WATER GATE.;

Patented Apr. 30, 1889.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. CAPLINGER, OFVSMITHFIELD, KENTUCKY.

'WATER-GATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 402,139, dated April 30, 1889. Application filed December 10, 1888. Serial No. 293,207. (No model.)

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and igures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to flood-gates; and it has for its object to provide a gate of this character which will automatically open or close as the condition of the stream may require; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and peculiar combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully explained in `one of the hinge-posts.

the annexed speciiication, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved flood-gate. Fig. 2 is a detail'view of Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 ando are detail views illustrating the latch mechanism. Y

In the practical construction of my gate l embed in the bottom of the creek a horizontal sill, A, to which (one at each end' thereof) are secured the posts B B, which may have their lower ends extended about three (3) feet and passed through the sill into the ground, and thereby assist in keeping the sill securely in place.

C denotes the gate, consisting of thetwo sections CA C', which are hinged to the posts B B, as 'shown in Fig. 2. By reference to said ufigure it will be seen that I form one corner of the posts B with cutaway portions B', forming recesses in which are fitted the hingebars 'C2 of the gate-sections C C. These sections vare connected to theposts BBby means of spring-hinges D D, which normally tend to close the said sections C C against acentral stop or latch, E.

\ plained.

The gate-sections C C each consist of the hinge-bar C2, the end bars, C3, and the horizontal boards C'L C5, the lower one of which is preferably about two feet wide, to keep trash from accumulating. The lower ends of the bars C3 are cut away, as atc c, and are provided near the lower edges of such ends with inwardlyprojecting studs c c', which engage with the end e of the latch E, as shown.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the construction of the latch E is clearly illustrated. Projecting upward from the sill A, inside of the gate, is a short post, Gr, the upper end of which is bifurcated, as at g, in which the rear arm, e2, of the latch E is pivoted upon a cross-pin, g.

The latch E consists of the enlarged head e., having an inclined face, c, a notch, e3, which engages the studs c c when the gateis closed, and thereby locks the same, a downwardlyextending weighted portion, E3, the pivotal arm c2, and the lateral wings or extensions E4.

The operation of my improved gate is as follows: The same being in position, as shown in Fig. `1, the notch in the gravity-latch E en gaging the studs c c will hold the gate locked. I

As the tide recedes and the pressure of theV water is gradually decreased, the spring-hinges will gradually close the gateisections. During this movement the studs c will strike against the inclined end of the latch and raise it until the studs register with the notch e3, which allows the latch to fall by gravity and hold the gate locked until a suicient pressure is again exerted against the win gs E4.

By hinging the gate-sections in the manner described the spring-hinges are more effectuallv protected from the dbris and swiftlyflowing tide, as the forward portion of the posts will defiect the same and prevent any unnecessary accumulation of dirt, dac.,V about the hinges. It will be seen that by construct- IOO ing the gate as set forth it always accommodates itself to the existing conditions of the stream. Its operation is exceedingly simple, and its cost of construction is very small in comparison with similar devices now in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. The combination, with the posts li, the gate-sections C C', hinged thereto, and springs for normally throwing said sections to a closed position, (the lower inner ends of the sections being provided. with projecting studs c c,) of the gravity-latch E, said latch hinged at its rear end forward of the gate, provided with a water-resistance surface at iis rear end, its forward end inclined and provided with a notch adapted to engage the studs c c when the latch is dropped, the forward end of said l latch adapted te lise from engagement with the studs when increased pressure is applied against the rear end of the latch, substanstantially as and for the purpose speciied.

2. The combination, with the posts B B, the gate-sections C C', hinged to said posts, and springs for forcing said sections normally into a closed position, said sections provided with inwardly-proj ecting studs c c', of the gravitylatch pivoted forward of the gate and proj ecting to the rearward thereof, said latch consisting of the body portion e', having an inclined end, c?, a notch, e, adapted to engage the studs c c', a rearwardlyextending arm, e, pivoted, as shown, and lateral wings or extensions E, extending transversely across the rear face of the latch below its pivotal point, said arms forming a resistance-surface for the water-pressure, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. CA'ILlNGICR.

\\'itnesses:

ZACH HEAD, vWM. ATCHIsoN. 

